NEVADA CITY, CA — On Thursday, January 22, Nevada County Arts Council will host a Creative Economy Town Hall at the Miners Foundry Cultural Center, convening local leaders with senior state leadership at a defining moment for arts, culture, and economic development in California.
The Town Hall will inform California’s Future is Creative, the State of California’s first-ever strategic plan for the creative economy. It coincides with the public rollout of Culture Forward 2025-2032, Nevada County’s new Arts & Culture Action Plan—placing the county at the intersection of statewide vision and local implementation.
Senior state leaders joining the conversation include Danielle Brazell, Executive Director of the California Arts Council; Fiona Ma, California State Treasurer; and Julie Baker, CEO of California for the Arts. The session will be moderated by the California Arts Council and structured as a listening session, designed to test how statewide strategies function in rural and regional contexts.
“This is a rare and powerful moment for Nevada County,” said Eliza Tudor, Executive Director of Nevada County Arts Council. “At the same time the state is adopting its first creative economy strategy, our community is ready to move from planning into action. This Town Hall ensures that rural voices help shape how policy, investment, and opportunity actually land on the ground.”
Nevada County is uniquely positioned to host this convening. The county is home to two California Cultural Districts, has completed extensive cross-sector community engagement through Culture Forward, and is already aligned with the state’s creative economy priorities. The Nevada County Town Hall is also the only Northern California session being formally documented as part of the California Arts Council’s 50th Anniversary year.
“Culture Forward reflects years of collaboration across cities, districts, and sectors,” said Donn Harris, Nevada County Arts Council board member, and former Chair of California Arts Council. “What’s happening here demonstrates that rural communities can lead complex, forward-looking planning—and that this work strengthens not just arts and culture, but workforce development, small business vitality, and community resilience.”
The Creative Economy Town Hall will bring together business leaders, public officials, philanthropic partners, cultural organizations, and community members to explore how the creative economy intersects with workforce pathways, entrepreneurship, education, tourism, housing, and long-term regional competitiveness.
Attendance is open, and participation is encouraged from across sectors. Advance registration is requested.
What: Creative Economy Town Hall — State–Local Listening Session
When: Thursday, January 22, 2026 at 1:00–4:00 PM
Where: Miners Foundry, 325 Spring Street, Nevada City
Who: Hosted by Nevada County Arts Council in partnership with the California Arts Council; featuring senior state leadership, local elected officials, business, philanthropic, and community leaders